Microsoft Warns of North Korean Cyberattacks on Russian Targets

According to a blog post by Microsoft Corp, Russian diplomats were targeted by North Korean hackers who managed to successfully infiltrate a Russian aerospace research institute earlier this year.

Microsoft did not identify any of the victims by name and provided few details or evidence, but said the hack occurred in March.

“North Korean threat actors may take advantage of the opportunity to gather intelligence on Russian units as the country focuses on the war in Ukraine,” the report said.

North Korea’s UN mission did not immediately respond to a desktop message for comment. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to an email.

Spying on rival military and diplomatic organizations is a standard modus operandi for the hacking teams of the world’s intelligence agencies. North Korea has been repeatedly accused of sending hackers to defense and diplomatic targets in South Korea, the United States and elsewhere.

But claims that Pyongyang is spying on its Russian allies are potentially more embarrassing as the countries draw closer amid the war in Ukraine.

Last month, Reuters and researchers from cybersecurity firm SentinelOne Inc revealed how North Korean spies had hacked into a major Russian missile developer for at least five months last year – putting them in a position to gather intelligence on Russia’s hypersonic missiles and rocket fuel technology.

Microsoft’s claims were made in a report on cyber espionage in East Asia, which also covered the US tech giant’s previous reports of Chinese hackers targeting critical US infrastructure, as well as new allegations of Chinese propaganda efforts that Beijing said “continued to expand”. “uses artificial intelligence and influencers.

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Beijing routinely denies allegations of cyber cover-up.